When an artist has a big success with a song, or an album, fans understandably want more of the same. A lot of singers don't like repeating themselves, however, despite a desire to keep the public happy. Eric Church's followers loved his album, Chief. It flew out of stores and was declared four times platinum by the RIAA. The blockbuster 2011 LP landed accolades like Album of the Year from the CMA, plus coveted nominations from the Grammys and the ACM. But Church, 48, although he is grateful for Chief's popularity with fans, is definitely going in other directions.
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It's sometimes hard to please everyone, including yourself, if you are a performer. Doing the same thing over and over may make some fans delighted. Others will carp that it's just being stale and boring. I guess the safest and sincerest way forward is to record the music you love and hope that others feel that way about it, too.
Church Talked About His New Creative Focus
The "Springsteen" singer dished candidly about his current creative path on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. It's a good time to discuss that topic. Church's most recent LP. Evangeline vs. The Machine, represents a significant break with what we are used to from him. Rolling Stone giddily labeled it "dazzling, challenging, and a masterwork." The outlet went on to say it's "the most ambitious, vulnerable album of his career." Yet some folks are still longing for more music like Chief. Still, in making the new album, Church followed his instincts - and his heart.
"I think artistically I've always been a guy that, creativity's been my compass in my career. I think that with every album we've done - we had our most success with an album called Chief. It was a big album. And everybody after Chief said, 'Well why don't you just make Chief again?' But once you've made that, you've done it. You've been there. And it's always chasing the next thing."
The Granite Falls, North Carolina, native added, "I've always been creatively restless, and with this album it's the first time we've brought in strings and horns and choir." And it most likely won't be the last time that this country music star surprises us.
